Sweet Moments

When I picked Zeke up from youth group tonight, I asked him what they talked about. He said they talked about God being (or should be) our #1 priority. He went on to say he is going to spend less time on Pokemon. I asked him if he thought that was what the Holy Spirit is telling him to do, and he said yes.

And just like that he is listening and obeying and my 7lb 12oz baby is becoming a young man and growing in his relationship with Christ and this mama could not be more proud of her son. <3 <3 <3

Sweet Prayers

"God, please let mom get a new thyroid and don't let this one get cancer, please. And help mom get pregnant so Macie can have a sister." -Asher

Back story, Macie REALLY wants a sister. She wonders why her brothers have each other but she doesn't have a sister. I encourage my kids to take their requests/feelings/anything to God , and so lately Asher has been praying this for his sister.

The thyroid part came out of nowhere !! He mentioned it would save money that I now spend on thyroid meds.

Asher is a sweetheart.

Today

Things I'm thankful for...

Friends who stand in the gap. Friends who inconvenience themselves to be the hands of feet, to show you you are not alone.

And I'm thankful for this message from Jesus on the eve of an important appointment - thankful for His peace.

No Control

The older I get, the more I realize how I try to control things. One thing in particular, my children. I try to control their environment, I try to keep them safe and I feel they are safest when with me - because then I know what's happening, I can change things accordingly, 'cause then I'm in control.

There's been a chance of storms all week but we haven't seen a drop of rain until this morning, the day my kids leave me for 24 hours and will be 1.5 hours away. I packed their bags, organized them, made sure they had all they would need plus some, to ensure their safety, well being, to give me a sense of comfort.

But now they're gone and the rain falls down and I have seen two strikes of lightning and have heard some thunder. My kids are driving off into a storm that I have no control of, I have no power over the weather or of people's driving. I am reminded of how not in control I am. I am humbled. I can try to control things to the best of my ability, with my limited knowledge, but I truly have no power in controlling the outcome of life --- whether it's my life or my children's. I am in tears as I realize my trust needs to be in His ability, not my own.

And now the storm clouds have rolled away and the sun has shown it's face. ❤

4th of July 2015

Saturday July 4th, 2015

So, today! It was pretty mellow. I took the kids to the pool for almost 3 hours. They had a blast! It's a big pool with two huge slides that make my stomach ache just from looking up at 'em, a kids play area, regular swimming area, lap pool area, and a rock climbing wall! Yes, a rock climbing wall in a pool-- crazy! They have like 4+ lifeguards at a time. Oh, and the first hour or so we were there, they were playing country music so you know I was happy -- especially when "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band came on. :)

After the pool, we came home for a late lunch and then just chilled for a while because I knew we would be up late for fireworks because they don't even start until after 10pm.

Fireworks were at the Capitol and we parked in the parking lot and just sat in the back of the Traverse with the trunk door open. The best part was hearing the kids reactions. Asher loved them and kept asking for bigger fireworks. Macie was cheering with such enthusiam that it was contagious! Zeke is too cool for such public displays of enthusiasm, but I know my boy enjoyed the show too. :)

We talked about today being America's birthday and this morning over breakfast, even say "happy birthday". This evening before bed, we read July 4 in Jesus Calling and then gave thanks for today and prayed for our country.

The kids passed out quickly and I will be too soon.

Happy 4th!

SB 277

So this happened today...

I don't usually blog about this kind of stuff, but I found this utterly upsetting and concerning.

I don't even live in California and when I saw this come up in my news feed, my heart sank. To me, this isn't a pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine issue; this is a rights issue. Our rights to choose what is best for our children is being stripped away from us. Vaccines are not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. I've heard some argue that you don't HAVE to have your child vaccinated in CA, they just can't attend school there. That seems like a bully move.

This law is unconstitutional. I think regardless of where you stand with vaccines, this law should concern you. It starts with taking away our right to choose (they're even taking away Religious exemption! Unconstitutional!!) and slowly over time we will start to lose "the right" to make personalized decisions regarding the best interest of our children. This is scary stuff, people. This is a slippery slope we are treading. I have no doubt that in time it will go beyond losing rights as parents, but as American citizens in general. This country doesn't feel so free. This feels like the beginning of the end. I can't help but worry for my children and their futures and their children's futures and so on.

I just want to encourage everyone to do your research and stand your ground. You may think no big deal about this law because you have made the choice to vaccinate your children, but what about later when they take away something that matters a lot to you? Think about what allowing them to have this power will do in the future? 

California is a big and influential state and in no time other states will be following suit. One can't help but question the real agenda here as they mandate all children to be vaccinated and take away parents right to go after the pharmaceutical companies for any vaccine related injury. "The love of money is the root of all evil."

No one on this earth cares more about your kids than you do. Imagine how you would feel if you were being forced to do something to your kids that you felt so strongly against? That's reality for so many tonight. And the "just home school" comment isn't productive. What about the single parent who doesn't have that luxury?

I urge you please to research and once this comes to your state (because it's only a matter of time before it does) please stand your ground against this horrendous and unconstitutional law. For yourself, for your babies, and for all the other loving parents and innocent children out there. Someone in some high and mighty job title who will never meet you or your child(ren) should ever have the right to make a personal decision for you and your child(ren).

Praying for our country and all the hurting families tonight.

"Any society that will give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin

If I could talk to the young me

If I could go back in time and talk to my old self, my young self ...

I would tell her to be intentional. With her words, actions, clothing. To be mindful of long term consequences. We can be forgiven of all sins, but that does not mean we are free of the consequences. Sometimes those consequences follow us into adulthood and are thrown in our face and spoken behind our back even though you've been set free. This is the consequence of the choices you made. And we know life isn't fair, so anyone at any time may bring it up...they may not look at you with such love and grace as your Heavenly Father does- they may be more critical and lack mercy. They may not see you for who you've become, but who you were. They may not understand your why's for doing what you did, they may not care about your history and lack of love and self worth growing up that lead to those sins. They just see you as a sinner, a criminal, a whore (or whatever your sin may have been) and that is how they keep you marked in their book. Thankfully- we know that thru salvation in Jesus Christ we are forgiven of our sins. But again, our sins bear consequences, and life/people aren't fair.

So I ask young (or any age) people, what you do/say/wear, where is this leading? Are you desensitizing yourself from reality? Are you looking for love in all the wrong places? Are you so scared that you are making a choice out of fear - not even considering the long term affects? Will your choices today negatively affect your future in someway? Are these choices something you would be proud to tell a future spouse, child, employer?

Sometimes living the intentional life with the bigger picture in mind is hard ... But I think the alternative, the past sins coming back to haunt you, people not giving you a fair chance but judging you based on those sins as a youth - I think all that is so much worse.

Dear young Emma,
I wish you knew at 17 that your Savior loves you - even if the men in your life walked away, hurt you, and didn't love you, He did/does and HE IS ENOUGH. I wish you knew that no problem you may face in life is bigger or too big for God...that if you humbly come before Him, He will lead you down the right the path and sustain you. I wish you didn't care so much about what others think about you...because when the going got tough, they all left, and only He was there, arms wide open. He is all you need and then some. Oh Emma, how I wish you didn't compromise your beliefs/morals to appease those around you. I wish you knew what He says about you, I wish you were confident in His truth.

But alas, there is no time machine, there is no going back. So what can I do? I can share my story, specifically with my children, I can pray for them/with them, point them towards Christ and may they choose to live with intention.